National award recognizes outstanding contributions of college student leaders across the country; Application process opens now until November 16, 2011

CHARLOTTE, NC; September 12, 2011 – Today Campus Pride (www.campuspride.org) releases its official call for the Voice & Action National Leadership Award, an honorary recognition highlighting the extraordinary contributions of young adult leaders at colleges and universities across the United States. For the fourth year, the national award is the only one nationally focused on the work of undergraduate college students who are creating positive change for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally issues. The application process officially opened today until November 16, 2011.

“Young adults have always been a force locally in communities and on college campuses creating systemic, long term change -- but seldom are they recognized for their efforts nationally,” said Shane Windmeyer, Executive Director of Campus Pride. “The Voice & Action Award gives ongoing visible national recognition where it has long been overdue.”

According to Windmeyer, the Voice & Action National Leadership Award is meant to underscore the mission of Campus Pride – “to develop, support and give voice and action in building future LGBT and ally leaders.” The award is bestowed upon individuals who use their “voice” to speak up and who take “action” to make a positive difference. Last year, Campus Pride recognized three outstanding LGBT and ally college students: JeShawna Wholley of Spelman College and Samuel Brinton of Kansas State University. Every academic year in the Spring, Campus Pride plans to honor at least one outstanding young adult in each region of the country with the Voice & Action National Leadership Award. Recipients will be recognized during one of the four regional LGBT and ally college conferences – the Midwest, the Northeast, the Northwest and the West Coast.

Additionally, Campus Pride again will be selecting Top 12 “Leaders in Action” as a part of the award review process. These Leaders in Action will be announced in early December, 2011. “We feel that there are so many great leaders across this country doing amazing work and the Campus Pride staff felt we needed to create a way to bring attention to that work,” said Christopher Bylone, Voice & Action Award Committee Chair. “Each applicant is their own ‘Leader in Action’ in their own right, so we thank each applicant upfront for submitting their name for this award.”

The Campus Pride national recognition is in partnership with OUTmedia. The award includes a free registration to attend the regional conference and the Voice & Action Award itself. As a special bonus to the honorary recognition, our educational partner, OUTmedia (www.outmedia.org) will offer a free artist or speaker of the recipient’s choice to bring to his/her campus the following year. Every dollar of support to OUTmedia strengthens Campus Pride's sustainability. OUTmedia representatives will serve on the selection committee as well as other leaders from the LGBT Communities.

“To be a leader in our movement, you do not need to have a national title or be on a board raising money for equality,” Bylone said. “We need to continue to recognize college students across the nation for all they do to promote LGBT equality and fairness in their local communities and on campus.”

Any current undergraduate student enrolled at an U.S. accredited institution and in good academic standing is eligible to apply for the award. A completed application must be received on/before deadline of November 16, 2011. Recipients will be chosen by a selection committee comprised of student leaders and a diversity of national representatives on LGBT issues. Notification of award recipients will happen by January 12, 2012.

For more details and to download the application, please go online to www.campuspride.org/voiceandaction, email [email protected] or contact Campus Pride at 704-277-6710. To learn more about the LGBT and ally regional conferences and how to register, please visit the Campus Pride events page at www.campuspride.org